Stackable holder

ABSTRACT

Described is a stackable holder ( 1 ), the upper surface of which is open and provided with a bent edge, wherein the bent edge comprises at least one elongate opening ( 3 ). In addition, notches ( 4 ) can be arranged in the surface under the base of the holder. When moisture remains in such holders placed into one another, they can nevertheless be separated from each other easily since vacuum hardly occurs between the holders.

[0001] The invention relates to a stackable holder, the upper surface of which is open and provided with a bent edge.

[0002] Examples of such stackable holders are holders of practically truncated cone shape, the upper surface of which is open, such as for instance a bucket, or the walls of which consist of triangular and/or trapezoidal segments and the base is polygonal in accordance with the number of triangles and/or trapeziums. Such stackable holders can also consist of portions, such as for instance rings, which can be fitted into each other.

[0003] Such bucket-shaped holders or holders with triangular and/or trapezoidal segments as described in the German utility model DE 29701744 have already been in use for some considerable time, for instance in the transport and display of bunches of cut flowers in water.

[0004] After use the holders have to be cleaned thoroughly to remove the contaminated, bacteria-containing flower water, and then stored or transported in stacked manner so that they take up little space. During cleaning of the holders it is however unavoidable that some moisture remains behind in the holders. When the holders are subsequently stacked by placing them onto each other, moisture is left between the torus or side walls of the holders even when the holder is placed with the upper surface downward, whereby a vacuum results between the torus or walls of the holders. This has the result that holders placed into each other are difficult to separate from each other.

[0005] The invention provides a solution to this problem, viz. a stackable holder of the type stated in the preamble, the bent edge of which is provided with at least one clongate opening. Owing to this elongate opening or plurality of elongate openings the cleaning water left behind surprisingly drains away much better than when only round openings are available. As elongate openings can preferably be envisaged an oval shape or an elongate shape. The chance of vacuum formation thus decreases, whereby taking the stacked holders apart becomes easier.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment there is situated at least one notch in a surface under the base, preferably in an edge at the position of the surface under the base, more preferably in such an edge which lies in the line of the side walls of the holder. In this way the formation of vacuum between the holders placed into each other is reduced in simple manner since there remains a certain space between two holders. When holders are stacked with at least one elongate opening on the bent edge as well as at least one notch on the underside of the side walls, it requires hardly any effort to pull them apart again.

[0007] The holders are usually manufactured from light plastic material, but manufacture with other material such as aluminium can also be envisaged.

[0008] In general holders of the same size will be stacked, but in the case holders are used with different height dimensions the application of a holder according to the invention will also result in less moisture between the walls of the different holders. The stacked holders can thereby be taken apart more easily.

[0009] The present invention will be further elucidated with reference to the annexed figures, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a view diagonally from above of a bolder with truncated cone shape (1) with optional notches (4) in the side walls and which is provided with a bent edge in which a number of oval openings (3) are situated;

[0011]FIG. 2 shows a view diagonally from above of a holder, the side walls of which consist of triangles and trapeziums (2) and the base is polygonal in accordance with the number of triangles and trapeziums, the upper surface of which is open, which is provided with a bent edge in which a number of oval openings (3) are situated, and with optional notches (4) in an edge in the surface under the base.

[0012] The figures are purely schematic and not drawn to scale. Some dimensions in particular are exaggerated for the sake of clarity.

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a holder of truncated cone shape according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, including notches.

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a holder with triangular and trapezoidal side walls, likewise in the preferred embodiment of the invention including notches.

[0015] When the holder is used in upside down position, practically all the lcak water runs out, reducing the chance of vacuum forming between the holders. If necessary, notches in the bottom edge further ensure that hardly any vacuum is created between the holders during unstacking. The great advantage achieved here in the transport industry, and particularly in the transport of holders for cut flowers which have to be cleaned with water, will be evident.

[0016] Although the present invention is elucidated in the foregoing on the basis of several embodiments, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. Any holder provided with an upper surface which is open with a bent edge in which goods are transported wherein leak water must be removed afterwards, such as for instance in the transport of fish, is deemed to fall within the invention. 

1. Stackable holder, the upper surface of which is open and provided with a bent edge, characterized in that the bent edge comprises at least one elongate opening (3).
 2. Stackable holder according to claim 1, wherein the elongate opening has an oval shape.
 3. Stackable holder according to claim 1 or 2, of practically truncated cone shape (1), or the walls of which consist of trapeziums (2) and the base is polygonal in accordance with the number of trapeziums.
 4. Stackable holder according to one or more of the foregoing claims, with at least one notch (4) in a surface under the base.
 5. Stackable holder according to claim 4, with at least one notch (4) in an edge under the base.
 6. Stackable holder according to claim 5, wherein the edge with at least one notch lies in the line of the side walls of the holder.
 7. Method of stacking stackable holders such that practically no vacuum is formed between the stacked holders, wherein two or more holders as described in one or more of the foregoing claims arc placed onto one another with the upper surface downward. 